Experts on Tyneside are about to start probing hundreds of blood samples for genetic clues to a childhood killer illness.

Congenital heart disease is a heart-related problem that is present from birth and claims the highest number of young lives in the UK.

Professor Bernard Keavney, based at Newcastle's Centre for Life, and research nurse Linda Sneddon, from the city's Freeman Hospital have collected 250 blood samples from heart disease patients and their families.

Their vital research has been funded by Heart Research UK which is holding a health drive this week aimed at getting people in the region to think more about looking after their ticker.

And the Chronicle, backed by scores of celebrities including screen stars Denise Welch and Tim Healy and Toon footy aces Shay Given and Lee Clark, have teamed up with the charity to launch the Your Own Free Will campaign all this week.

Readers can have a chance to draw up a will with local solicitors, free of charge. At the same time they will be asked to consider leaving a legacy to Heart Research UK to help fund lifesaving research schemes.

Prof Keavney said: "We're hoping this is going to be breakthrough research because congenital heart disease is a massive killer among children.

"But due to the advances in surgery a lot of children are surviving this condition and going on to have families of their own.

"As a result, we need to know which gene patterns carry the risk and if their children are in danger.

"Our project is so important because if we can understand how heart disease happens then we can arrive at better treatments."

Prof Keavney and Nurse Sneddon have funding from Heart Research UK for another seven months.

Nurse Sneddon said: "My experience when approaching patients and their families is that they're very keen to support the study by taking part and they are very grateful it's taking places.

"Many feel they're helping the researchers look towards finding out answers to questions they have about congenital heart disease.

"This would not be possible without the support of Heart Research UK or indeed the generous donations they receive from the public."

There are many different kinds of specific congenital heart defects. They may affect various heart structure, such as the valves, the veins leading to the heart, the arteries leaving the heart or the connections among these various parts.